IAAPA announces 2018 Brass Ring Award winners
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) presented the 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards on Wednesday, November 14 during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The annual awards recognise amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centres (FECs), and suppliers from around the world for excellence in food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, new products, and exhibits.
The tradition of the brass ring, a term now synonymous with spectacular achievement, dates back to the 1800s. Rings were suspended above carousel riders — low enough for them to grasp, but high enough to pose a challenge. Skilled riders who grabbed a brass ring often earned prizes, including a free ride on the carousel. Most rings were made of iron, but a few were made of brass, so grabbing the brass ring was a valuable treat.
IAAPA Brass Ring Awards honour this tradition of reaching up and earning a prize by celebrating achievements of excellence throughout the global attractions industry.
The winners of the 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are:
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
Jake’s Unlimited; Mesa, Arizona, United States; www.jakesunlimited.com
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Poopies and Poopcakes,” Skånes Djurpark, Sweden; www.skanesdjurpark.se
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Bowl,” Palace Entertainment, Newport Beach, California, United States; www.palaceentertainment.com/
Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush: “Gillie Guinea Pig Plush,” Zoomars Petting Zoo, San Juan Capistrano, California, United States; www.zoomars.com
Best Apparel: “Killer Croc Flat Brim Cap,” Warner Bros. Movie World Gold Coast Australia, Oxenford, Queensland; www.themeparks.com.au/attractions/warner-bros-movie-world
Best Hard Good Item:
“Light Up Slinky Dog,” Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States;www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
Best Store Visual Merchandising:
“Europa-Park Factory Shop powered by Majorette,” Europa-Park, Germany; www.europapark.de/de
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Great Wolf Lodge – Niagara Falls; Canada; www.greatwolf.com/niagara
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Dolphin Way at Work,” Grupo Dolphin Discovery, Mexico; www.dolphindiscovery.com/
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Skånes Djurpark,” Skånes Djurpark Resort AB, Sweden; www.skanesdjurpark.se
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Denver Zoo, Denver, Colorado, United States; www.denverzoo.org
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Skånes Djurpark,” Skånes Djurpark Resort AB, Sweden; www.skanesdjurpark.se
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Hersheypark, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, www.hersheypark.com
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act: “Sesame Street Party Parade,” SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States; www.seaworld.com
Best Performer: Sabrina Marlene, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States; www.buschgardens.com/williamsburg/
Best Live “Edutainment” Show: “Ocean Resistance,” Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, China; http://zh.chimelong.com/
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Favola,” Leolandia, Italy; www.leolandia.it
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Beauty and the Beast,” Disney Parks Live Entertainment, United States; https://disneycruise.disney.go.com
Most Creative Christmas Show: “The Enchanted Journey,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States; www.hersheypark.com
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience: “Hell’s Grand Finale,” Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk/en
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular: “Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland,” Disney Parks Live Entertainment, Tokyo, Japan; www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/index.html
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Vivid Festival at Luna Park Sydney,” Luna Park Sydney, Australia; www.lunaparksydney.com
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Summer Carnimal 2018,” Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk/en
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals: “Pets Rule,” SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States; www.seaworld.com
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show: “Cirque Electrique,” SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States; www.seaworld.com
Spirit Award
The Spirit Award is given to the most outstanding person who works behind-the-scenes to support high-quality entertainment value of the nominating attraction.
Ulrich Grawunder, Europa-Park, Germany, www.europapark.de/e
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign: “The Poopie Movie,” Skånes Djurpark, Sweden; www.skanesdjurpark.se
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign: “Ocean Park Hong Kong Drink’N Music Fest 2018,” Ocean Park Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk
Best Outdoor Advertisement: “Your Visit Protects Wildlife” Outdoor Campaign (“Tu Visita Protégé La Vida Silvestre”), Africam Safari, Mexico; www.africamsafari.com
Best Public Relations Campaign: “Launch of the Haunted Mine Drop,” Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States; www.glenwoodcaverns.com
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial: “Silver Dollar City’s Time Traveler Radio Commercial,” Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, United States; www.silverdollarcity.com
Best Social Media Campaign: “The Poopie Movie,” Skånes Djurpark, Sweden; www.skanesdjurpark.se
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 250,000:
“Xenotes Live,” Mexico; www.xenotes.com
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: Annual Attendance 250,000 – 1 Million: “Spökjakten,” Furuvik Djurpark, Sweden; www.furuvik.se
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Lagoon: Summer Daze,” Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, Utah, United States; www.lagoonpark.com
BEST EXHIBIT EXHIBITOR AWARDS 2018
IMAGE AWARD
Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, Inc. (ICE), Booth 1106/1306
Booth Size 100 – 199 Square Feet
First Place: YourMapp, Booth E7609
Second Place: VITO Fryfilter, Booth 3858
Booth Size 200 – 399 Square Feet
First Place: Imagination Corporation, Booth 856
Second Place: WIPEOUT, Booth 3610
Booth Size 400 – 499 Square Feet
First Place: Eleventh Hour, Booth 460
Second Place: S4 Lights, Booth 4029
Booth Size 500 – 899 Square Feet
First Place: TAF USA – TRUSS ALUMINUM FACTORY, Booth 1383
Second Place: Weber Group, Inc., Booth 1684
Booth Size 900 – 1,200 Square Feet
First Place: Dynamic Attractions Ltd., Booth 1073
Second Place: Legacy Entertainment, Booth 1062
Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet
First Place: WhiteWater West Industries Ltd, Booth 2239
Second Place: Polin Waterparks, Booth 846
BEST NEW PRODUCT EXHIBITOR AWARDS
IMPACT AWARD
SlideWheel
wiegand.maelzer GmbH, Booth 3580
Major Ride/Attraction – Class A (Product cost of US$3 million or more)
First Place: SlideWheel,
wiegand.maelzer GmbH, Booth 3580
Second Place: Single Rail Raptor Roller Coaster
Rocky Mountain Construction, Booth 2883
Major Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$3 million)
First Place: Justice League: A Call For Heroes-Holovis Walkthrough Experience
Holovis, Booth 778
Second Place: Skywarp
Ride Entertainment, Booth 5720
Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class A (Standard Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: Oscar’s Wacky Taxi
The Gravity Group LLC, Booth 4258
Second Place: C Car Town
Shenyang Chuangqi Amusement Equipment Co., Ltd., Booth 4837
Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class B (Coin-op Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: KidSim Simulator
FALGAS INDUSTRIES, Booth 2035
Second Place: DIABOLO
FALGAS INDUSTRIES, Booth 2035
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class A (Product cost of US$2 million or more)
First Place: FusionFortress 17
WhiteWater West Industries Ltd, Booth 2239
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$2 million)
First Place: FlyingSAUCER 45
ProSlide Technology, Inc., Booth 2054
Second Place: Aqua Race Kart
Kart 1, Booth E7421
Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
First Place: HyperBowling
QubicaAMF Bowling Products, Booth 406/606
Second Place: Gen8 Infinity Laser Tag System
Laserforce International, Booth 4442
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class A (Product or Service used by Consumers)
First Place: Electric C.P. Huntington Train
Chance Rides, Booth 5124
Second Place: DreamSet Headset
CAVU Designwerks, Booth 1691
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class B (Product or Service used by Facilities)
First Place: OverVue Arcade Game Analytics,
New Vue Solutions , Booth E7513
Second Place: Vantage
WhiteWater West Industries Ltd, Booth 2239
Food Services
First Place: VITO oil filter system
VITO Fryfilter, Booth 3858
Second Place: Create-A-Cone Trike
Syrup Systems, Inc., Booth 3754
Merchandising & Retail Products
First Place: NXT, Capture – Facial Recognition
NXT Capture, Booth 854
Second Place: Rubie’s Costume Company’s Jurassic World Inflatable T-Rex Costume
Rubie’s Costume Co. Inc, Booth 3454
Games & Devices – Class A (Arcade & Video Games and Equipment)
First Place: WWE Superstar Rumble
Andamiro USA Corp., Booth 1302
Second Place: HOOPLA
Sega Amusements International Ltd, Booth 1506/1606
Games & Devices – Class B (Midway Games and Equipment)
First Place: Zombyte
Creative Works, Inc., Booth 4274/4471
Second Place: VRcade ATOM
VRstudios, Inc., Booth 4386
Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment & Supplies, Displays & Sets
First Place: HiLight JellyFish
AirDD, LLC, Booth 3515
Second Place: National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey
Falcon’s Creative Group, Booth 2278
Services, Equipment & Supplies
First Place: RLR with LED
Safe-Strap Company LLC, Booth 4626
Second Place: Restroom Feedback Surveys
Avius, Booth 3148
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride Attraction
First Place: Stormforce 20
Ride Engineers Switzerland, Booth 4484
Second Place: Orbiter
WhiteWater West Industries Ltd, Booth 2239
Best New Product Concept Award: Other Products/Services
First Place: Diving Theatre
VR Coaster GmbH & Co.KG, Booth 2669
Second Place: Ultrahaptics STRATOS Inspire
Ultrahaptics, Booth 3081
Best New Product Concept Award: Attraction
First Place: Dynamic Duel Power Coaster
Dynamic Attractions Ltd., Booth 1073
Second Place: Atari Pong Cocktail Table
Unis Technology (H.K) Limited, Booth 631/831
